Some analysts have questioned whether recent productivity figures are reliable, partly because some of the high-growth locations are in residential areas, and they can be partly explained by errors in the data., external.
Nevertheless, many economists think that Greater Manchester has performed better than other UK city regions over the past 15 years – and argue that this is partly attributable to the devolution of powers, particularly over transport, planning and housing.
Devolution has helped to deliver this record on housing as the Greater Manchester Mayoralty has the authority to set the city-region’s housing strategy, direct housing investment funding and co-ordinate affordable housing programmes. Devolution has enabled an increase in investment as one of the evolving roles of the city region mayor is to encourage companies to invest in an area, particularly multinationals, to create jobs and promote local development.
Some economists also point to the B network of buses which brought the system under mayoralty control and encouraged private sector investment in Manchester city centre.
Andrew Carter of the Center for Cities think tank says, “There is a recognition (among Greater Manchester leadership) that the future of Manchester is a big city offering many different opportunities, but particularly for high value-added activity.”
“They’re willing to do what’s necessary – building housing, supporting university expansion, supporting research and development, trying to start a transportation system that actually supports all that kind of stuff. And as a result you become more attractive for investment, whether it’s foreign or domestic.”
<a href